Metal extrusion press with multiple container system



March 15, 1966 5 R 3,240,046

METAL EXTRUSION PRESS WITH MULTIPLE CONTAINER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor FRANK SIDNEY SA TER March 15, 1966 5, SALTER 3,240,046

METAL EXTRUSION PRESS WITH MULTIPLE CONTAINER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor FRANK SlDNEY SALTER By I 1 .44,,

b A "omeys March 15, 1966 F. s. SALTER 3,240,046

METAL EXTRUSION PRESS WITH MULTIPLE CONTAINER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor FRANK SIDNEY SALTER United States Patent 3,240,046 METAL EXTRUSION PRESS WITH MULTIPLE CONTAINER SYSTEM Frank Sidney Salter, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, England, assignor to The Loewy Engineering Company Limited, Bournemouth, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,771 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 24, 1961, 2,525/ 60 4 Claims. (Cl. 72-263) This invention relates to a metal extrusion press. Such a press comprises essentially a container in which the metal is placed in the form of a billet, an apertured die positioned at the end of the container, and a pressing stem which is powered from the main hydraulic unit of the press. The press is operated in such a manner that the pressing stem enters the container and forces the billet through the die aperture so that an elongated article in the form of a solid or hollow strand of desired cross section is produced. Each extrusion cycle includes, in addition to the extrusion proper, a number of ancillary operations. These consist i.a. of the loading of the container with a billet and the positioning of a pressing disc between pressing stem and billet before each extrusion, and of the separation of the unextruded billet discard from the extruded strand and its expulsion together with that of the pressing disc from the container.

In the case of the extrusion of steel or other metals which are diflicult to extrude, additional ancillary operations prior to, and after, each extrusion may be required. Thus the total time taken by the ancillary operations during an extrusion cycle may sometimes exceed considerably the time for the extrusion proper. In order to speed up work and to save labour, all press operations including the ancillary operations are nowadays mechanised as much as possible. Most of the ancillary operations involve a working stroke of an implement in the direction of the container axis. This makes it difficult to perform more than one ancillary operation at one container at the same time.

It has been proposed to provide a metal extrusion press with more than one billet container, the containers being mounted on a common rotary carrier or turret so that the containers can be moved sequentially through several stations. These stations include a working station inside the press and in the main press axis, and outside or parking stations outside the axis. Thus it is possible to prepare a container at an outside or parking station for the extrusion operation while extrusion through another container in the working station is in progress.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal extrusion press having several billet containers mounted on a common carrier or turret in which means for performing ancillary operations are so arranged in the press and relative to said carrier or turret that more than one ancillary operation can be performed at the same time at outside or parking stations while extrusion is in progress at the working station.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following in which an embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical cross section of a horizontal extrusion press embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a section through part of the press in which, for the sake of better understanding, certain parts of the press are shown as being in the same plane,

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the distribution of the various operations during an extrusion cycle over the working and parking stations of the containers.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the metal extrusion press according to the invention has a main hydraulic cylinder 10, with a main ram 11 displaceable therein, and a platen 12 connected to the main cylinder by four columns 13-16 (not shown in FIG. 2). Attached to the main ram 11 is a pressing stem 17, with a mandrel 18 projecting therethrough for the extrusion of hollow articles such as tubes. The main working axis XX of the press is the axis along which the pressing stem 17 and the mandrel 18 are moved during an extrusion operation. The four columns 13-16 are shown here as being arranged on the corners of a rectangle through whose centre the axis X--X passes (FIG. 2).

Further arranged in the axis X-X is one of three containers 19, 119, or 219 and one of two die assemblies 20 or 120. The three containers are mounted on a common carrier or turret 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which can be rotated about a trunnion 22. The means for rotating the carrier or turret are not shown, it being understood that any suitable means may be used for that purpose such as an electrical motor and a reduction gear. The three containers 19, 119 and 219 are arranged on a circle about the axis of the trunnion 22, the circle passing through the main working axis XX of the press at the point P of FIG. 1. The three containers 19, 119 and 219 are spaced apart from each other on that circle by equal angles of 120 each so that stepwise rotation of the carrier 21 by that angle moves the containers sequentially through each of three stations A, B and C, spaced apart from each other by 120 (FIG. 1). Station A is situated in the press axis XX and is consequently the working station, and stations B and C are outside or parking stations which, in the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, are situated one above the other. For the sake of convenience and for better understanding of the invention the three containers 19, 119 and 219 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being in the same plane.

The two die assemblies 20 and 120 are mounted, together with two auxiliary devices such as discard. shearing punches 23 and 123 on a common carrier or turret 24. The latter can be rotated about a second trunnion 25 by means not shown. The die assemblies 20 and 120 and the auxiliary devices 23 and 123 are alternately arranged on a circle about the trunnion 25, the circle intersecting the main working axis XX of the press at the same point P as the circle on which the three containers 19, 119 and 219 are situated. The die assemblies 20 and 120 and the auxiliary devices 23 and 123 are spaced apart on that circle by equal angles of each so that stepwise rotation of the carrier or turret 24 by that angle moves the die assemblies and the devices sequentially through each of four stations D, E,--F and G spaced apart from each other by 90. l. a

The station D is situated in the press axis XX and consequently the working station and stations E, F and G are outside or parking stations. For the sake of convenience and for better understanding of the invention the die assemblies 20 and and the auxiliary devices 23 and 123 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being in the same plane.

As is evident from FIG. 1 the two trunnions 22 and 25 are arranged in the horizontal plane through the working axis XX, but this arrangement is not essential for the invention.

The two carriers or turrets 21 and 24 can be moved by means not shown, in a direction parallel to the axis X-X.

In this way the carriers can be moved towards and away from each other and also towards and away from the platen 12. In FIG. 1 the two carriers are shown as spaced apart from each other, a position which they assume after an extrusion operation has been carried out and while the discard is sheared off by such means as a saw 26 which is movable in vertical guideways so that it can be lowered across the axis XX. It is understood that during the extrusion operation the two carriers 21 and 24 are in the position of maximum approach so that the container is in sealing contact with the die assembly 20. In order to establish this sealing contact with the die assembly 20 a barrel 27 is provided (see FIG. 2) which can be advanced, through hydraulic means not shown, connected to rods 28, which are guided in lugs projecting from the cylinder 10.

Incorporated into the press are further a number of devices for performing ancillary operations on those of the containers which are not in the working station A. According to the invention, these devices are distributed over the outside or parking stations B and C so that at least two ancillary operations can be carried out at the same time, one at each station, while the extrusion of a billet at station A is in progress.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a billet loading means 30 is arranged at station C. This station serves further the purpose of placing pressing disc 31 in position in front of the billet 32. The station C contains further a loading chute or apron 33. Arranged at station B is an ejecting cylinder 34 and pusher 37 for the unextruded discard 35 and the pressing disc 31 adhering thereto, and a containercleaning or brushing pusher 36. Both pushers 36 and 37 are so arranged relative to each other as to enter the container from opposite sides. The cylinder 34 includes a pusher 37 which is operated by a hydraulic unit 38 and enters the container from the side of the pressing stem. The pusher 36 includes a pusher rod 39 and a brush 40 operated from a hydraulic unit not shown here and adapted to enter the container from the platen side.

Further tools or implements can be provided at either station E or C for performing other ancillary operations on a container which is in the parking position, for instance, cooling or preheating.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the various operations carried out during an extrusion cycle at thethree stations A, B and C.

At station C a billet 32 and a pressing disc 31 are loaded. by the plunger 30 into a container 19. At station A extrusion of abillet 32 is in progress, through container 119 and die assembly 120, the various steps shown including in the normal manner, (a) the positions before extrusion starts, (b) the piercing of a billet by means of a mandrel 18, (c) the extrusion through a die assembly, (d) the retraction of the'mandrel 18- within a bore in the pressing stem 17, (e) the retraction of the pressing stem 17 after an extrusion has been performed and (f) the retraction of the barrel 27 and container 119 from the die assembly 120 and the shearing of the discard 35 by means of a saw 26.

Alternatively the shearing of the discard may be effected by means of one of the punching tools 23 or 123.

At the same time the discard 35 and the pressing disc 31 are expelled from the container 219 at station B by means of the ejecting cylinder 34 and subsequently the container is cleaned by the pusher 36.

The loading of the container 19 at station C takes place simultaneously with the operations at stations A and B.

It is therefore possible with the press according to the invention to perform simultaneously more than one ancillary operation while extrusion is in progress at another station. In this way the time for an extrusion cycle can be considerably shortened and the output of the press increased. It is to be borne in mind in this connection that the time required for the extrusion proper is often only a small fraction of the time required for an extrusion cycle, in particular, in the case of the extrusion of such metals as steel which are extruded at high speeds, and which, on the other hand, require a relatively great nu her of ancillary operations prior to and after each extrusion.

The press according to the invention may be provided with more than three containers and accordingly with more than two working or outside stations, it being understood, however, that the number of containers and all stations, including working and outside stations should be equal. If more than two outside stations are provided, the loading of the billet and a pressing disc can take place at one outside station, the ejection of the discard and pressing disc at a second station, and the cleaning of the container at a third outside station. In this way the time required for a complete extrusion cycle can be further reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. A metal extrusion press having a rectangular platen, at least three billet containers, a carrier for said containers, the said carrier being rotatable about an axis parallel to the press axis so that said containers can be moved sequentially and in steps through at least three stations, including a working station in the press axis and at least two parking stations outside the press axis, the two parking stations being located one above the other in the same vertical plane, outside the vertical edge of said platen, the axis of rotation of said carrier being arranged at the same level as the press axis, discard expelling means adapted to enter a container along the axis of said container at the upper of said two parking stations and billet loading means adapted to load a billet into a second container along the axis of second container at the lower of said two parking stations.

2. A horizontal extrusion press having a rectangular platen, at least three billet containers, a carrier for said containers, the said carrier being rotatable about an axis parallel to the press axis so that said containers can be moved sequentially and in steps through at least three stations, including a working station in the press axis and at least two parking stations outside the press axis and the vertical edge of the platen, the axis of rotation of said carrier being arranged at the same level as the press axis, discard expelling means adapted to enter a container along the axis of said container at the first of said two parking stations, billet loading means adapted to load a billet into a second container along the axis of said second container at the second of said two parking stations, a plurality of dies, and a die carrier adapted to rotate about another axis parallel to the press axis, the two axes of rotation being arranged at opposite sides of the press axis and at the same horizontal level as the press axis.

3. A metal extrusion press having a platen, four tie rods connecting the platen and the main cylinder, at least three billet containers, a carrier for said containers, said carrier being rotatable about an axis parallel to the press axis separate from the tie rods so that the containers can be moved sequentially and insteps through at least three stations, including a working station in the press axis, and at least two parking stations outside the press axis, the axis of rotation of said carrier being midway between two of said' tie rods on the same side of the press axis, and separate means for carrying out simultaneously auxiliary operations on containers at each of said parking stations.

4. A metal extrusion press having a platen, four tie rods connecting the platen and the main cylinder, three billet containers, a carrier for said containers, the said carrier being rotatable about an axis parallel to the press axis separate from the tie rods so that said containers can be moved sequentially and in steps through at least three stations, including a working station in the press-v axis and two parking stations outside the press axis, the axis of rotation of said carrier being midway between two of said tie rods on the same side of the press axis, discard expelling means adapted to enter a container along the axis of said container at the qt said two 5 parking stations and billet loading means adapted to load a billet into a second container along the axis of said second container at the second of said two parking stations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,867 4/1959 Keck 2071.1 2,933,184 4/1960 Billen et al 207-3 3,120,304 2/1964 Pahnke et a1. 2071 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,163,770 4/1958 France.

1,233,403 5/ 1960 France.

542,045 1/ 1932 Germany. 804,220 11/ 1958 Great Britain.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM W. DYER, 1a., MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

Examiners. 

1. A METAL EXTRUSION PRESS HAVING A RECTANGULAR PLATEN, AT LEAST THREE BILLET CONTAINERS, A CARRIER FOR SAID CONAINERS, THE SAID CARRIER BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE PRESS AXIS SO THAT SAID CONTAINERS CAN BE MOVED SEQUENTIALLY AND IN STEPS THROUGH AT LEAST THREE STATIONS, INCLUDING A WORKING STATION IN THE PRESS AXIS AND AT LEAST TWO PARKING STATIONS OUTSIDE THE PRESS AXIS, THE TWO PARKING STATIONS BEING LOCATED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE, OUTSIDE THE VERTICAL EDGE OF SAID PLATEN, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CRRIER BEING ARRANGED AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE PRESS AXIS, DISCARD EXPELLING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENTER A CONTAINER ALONG THE ACIS OF SAID CONTAINER AT THE UPPER OF SAID TWO PARKING STATIONS AND BILLET LOADING MEANS ADAPTED TO LOAD A BILLET INTO A SECOND CONTAINER ALONG TEH AXIS OF SECOND CONTAINER AT THE LOWER OF SAID TWO PARKING STATIONS. 